Collapsible irradiation device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an irradiation device ( 1 ) comprising a base part ( 2 ), a support ( 3 ) longitudinally extending from the base part ( 2 ) and enclosing an angle ( a ) with a vertical axis V, and a housing ( 4 ) comprising a central axis ( 5 ), at least one radiation unit ( 6 ), and a radiation emission plane ( 7 ), said housing ( 4 ) being pivotally connected to said support via a pivot shaft ( 8 ), said housing ( 4 ) being pivotable between an operational position (A), in which the radiation emission plane ( 7 ) is horizontal (X), and a rest position (B), in which the radiation emission plane ( 7 ) vertical (Y), and the central axis ( 5 ) of the housing ( 4 ) encloses the angle ( a ) with the vertical axis (V), the pivot shaft ( 8 ) extending from the support enclosing an angle ( a   /2 ) with the horizontal plane (X) and with the vertical plane (Y). Because of the arrangement of the pivot shaft at this angle relative to both these planes, the housing can be fluently rotated about the pivot shaft between the operational position and the rest position. The movement of the housing from the operational position to the rest position, and vice versa, requires only a single rotation about a single pivot axis.

The invention relates to an irradiation device comprising a base part, asupport longitudinally extending from the base part and enclosing anangle (α) with a vertical axis, and a housing comprising a central axis,at least one radiation unit, and a radiation emission plane, saidhousing being pivotally connected to said support via a pivot shaft soas to be pivotable between an operational position, in which theradiation emission plane is horizontal, and a rest position, in whichthe radiation emission plane is vertical, and the central axis of thehousing encloses the angle (α) with the vertical axis.

An irradiation device of the type described in the opening paragraph isgenerally known. A known irradiation device is used, for example, forirradiating the human body with ultraviolet radiation. The supportextends longitudinally from the base part, enclosing an angle with avertical axis. The housing is provided with an ultraviolet radiationunit, and in operation the ultraviolet radiation leaves the housingthrough the radiation emission plane. Said housing is pivotallyconnected to the support via a pivot shaft. In the operational positionof the housing the radiation emission plane is horizontal, and in therest position the radiation emission plane is vertical, the central axisof the housing enclosing the angle (α) with the vertical axis. After usethe device can be folded into a more compact configuration for storagepurposes in that the housing is rotated about the pivot shaft relativeto the support.

A user has to execute two rotational operations to move the housing intoa position parallel with the support. First, the housing has to berotated from its operational position into a position in which theradiation emission plane is vertical. Then the housing has to be rotatedwithin this vertical plane towards the rest position in which thecentral axis of the housing encloses the angle (α) with the verticalaxis. This is cumbersome for the user, and it requires additional hingepoints which render the construction more expensive and vulnerable.

It is an object of the invention to provide an irradiation device whichis easily collapsible and which has a solid folding mechanism. Toachieve this object, an irradiation device according to the invention ischaracterized in that the pivot shaft extends from the support so as toenclose an angle (α/2) with the horizontal plane and with the verticalplane. Because of the arrangement of the pivot shaft at this anglerelative to both these planes, the housing can be fluently rotated aboutthe pivot shaft between the operational position and the rest position.The movement of the housing from the operational position to the restposition, and vice versa, requires only a single rotation about a singlepivot axis. This is advantageous both when the irradiation device is tobe put up before use and when it is to be stored after use, and thusenhances the user-friendliness of the device. Furthermore, in thismanner no additional hinge points are required, which renders it a solidconstruction.

An embodiment of an irradiation device according to the invention ischaracterized in that a blocking system is provided for releasablyblocking the housing in its operational position and in its restposition relative to the support. In this manner it is ensured that thehousing maintains its intended position relative to the support, whichis especially important for the operational position in view of usersafety.

An embodiment of an irradiation device according to the invention ischaracterized in that the blocking system comprises a cylindricalblocking element with protrusions which is provided coaxially with thepivot shaft near an end of the pivot shaft in the vicinity of itsconnection to the support, and a chamber provided in the housing forreceiving said blocking element, comprising notches for co-operationwith said protrusions. This provides an advantageous construction of theblocking system.

A further embodiment of an irradiation device according to the inventionis characterized in that a connection system is provided for connectingthe pivot shaft to the support, which system comprises a fasteningelement for receiving the shaft, which fastening element is attachableto the support, and a clamp element for clamping the shaft in saidfastening element.

An embodiment of an irradiation device according to the invention ischaracterized in that the device comprises a suntanning device.

The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter withreference to the drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an irradiation deviceaccording to the invention, FIGS. 2 a and b are a schematic top view anda schematic side view, respectively, of an upper part of the irradiationdevice of FIG. 1, FIGS. 3 a, b and c are schematic side views of theirradiation device of FIG. 1 when it is being moved from an operationalposition into a rest position, FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a blockingsystem of the irradiation device according to the invention, FIG. 5 isan exploded view of a connection system of a further embodiment of anirradiation device according to the invention, and FIGS. 6 a and 6 b area schematic view of a further irradiation device and a schematic view ofan upper part of the irradiation device of FIG. 6 a, respectively.

FIG. 1 shows an irradiation device 1 according to the invention,comprising a base part 2 and a support 3 longitudinally extending fromthe base part 2 at an angle a relative to a vertical axis V. It is notedthat, although this embodiment of the device is a suntanning device, itmay alternatively comprise other types of irradiation devices. Thedevice furthermore comprises a housing 4 comprising a central axis 5, atleast one radiation unit 6, and a radiation emission plane 7. Theradiation unit 6 in this embodiment comprises compact HPA lamps, but itis noted that any known type of radiation source may be applied. Theradiation emission plane 7 is the plane through which the radiationleaves the housing during operation of the device. The housing 4 ispivotally connected to said support 3 via a pivot shaft 8. The housing 4is pivotable between an operational position A (see FIGS. 2 a and 3 a),in which the radiation emission plane is horizontal (X), and a restposition B, in which the radiation emission plane is vertical (Y), andthe central axis 5 of the housing 4 encloses the angle (α) with thevertical axis, in this embodiment extending parallel to the support (seeFIG. 3 c).

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 a and b, the pivot axis 8 extends from thesupport 3 enclosing an angle (α/2) with the vertical plane Y and withthe horizontal plane X. In this manner the housing can be moved from itsoperational position A shown in FIG. 3 a into its rest position B shownin FIG. 3 c by means of a single rotation about a single pivot axis.FIG. 3 b shows an in-between position of the housing between thepositions A and B, which is not a static position, but a position thatoccurs during the fluent movement of the housing about the pivot shaft 8from position A to B. Since the pivot shaft is arranged in the abovedescribed manner, the device according to the invention can be easilyfolded for storage purposes, which enhances the user-friendliness of theirradiation device, while it also provides a solid construction.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a blocking system 10 of an irradiationdevice 1 according to the invention. The blocking system 10 is providedfor releasably blocking the housing 4 in its operational position A andin its rest position B relative to the support 3. In this embodiment,the blocking system 10 comprises a blocking element 11 with protrusions12, which is provided coaxially with the pivot shaft 8 near an end ofthe pivot shaft 8 in the vicinity of its connection to the support 3. Achamber 13 for receiving said blocking element II is provided in thehousing 4, here shown as an inner part of the housing, said chamber 13comprising notches 22 for co-operation with said protrusions 12. Thenotches receive the protrusions in dependence on the rotational movementof the housing, and thus of the chamber, relative to the pivot shaft,and thus relative to the blocking element. This construction ensuresthat the housing 4 maintains the position in which it is set by theuser, this position being either the operational position or the restposition. In the operational position, the blocking system prevents anunsafe situation for the user of the device, which would occur if thehousing were to rotate by itself about the pivot shaft while a user ispresent beneath the radiation emission plane. In the rest position, theblocking system prevents damage to the housing or objects present nearthe device, which would occur if the housing were to rotate by itselfabout the pivot shaft while it is stored away.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a connection system 30 of a furtherembodiment of an irradiation device 1′ according to the invention. Theconnection system 30 is provided for connecting the pivot shaft 8 to thesupport 3 and comprises a fastening element 31 for receiving the shaft8, which element is attached to the support 3, and a clamp element 32for clamping the shaft 8 in said fastening element. It is noted thatother types of connection systems may alternatively be used to connectthe axis to the support. For example, the connection system as shown inFIG. 4 may be applied, this system comprising two housing parts whichare connectable to the support and between which the shaft is clamped.

It is noted that, although the irradiation device as described in theabove embodiments comprises a suntanning device, the irradiation deviceaccording to the invention may also comprise other types of irradiationdevices. Medical irradiation devices and devices for illumination, forexample, may also benefit from the advantages resulting from theinvention.

It is noted that other means may be provided for easily moving thehousing between the operational position and the rest position in anirradiation device comprising a base part, a support longitudinallyextending from the base part and enclosing an angle (α) with a verticalaxis, and a housing comprising a central axis, at least one radiationunit, and a radiation emission plane, said housing being pivotallyconnected to said support via a pivot shaft so as to be pivotablebetween an operational position, in which the radiation emission planeis horizontal, and a rest position, in which the radiation emissionplane is vertical, and the central axis of the housing encloses theangle (α) with the vertical axis.

Said means may comprise a gear system comprising a first gear wheelprovided at the connection point of the support to the lamp housing, asecond gear wheel engaging the first gear wheel, connected to the lamphousing, and rotatable about the pivot shaft, the diameter of the firstgear wheel being related to the diameter of the second gear wheel asfollows: first gear wheel diameter=second gear wheel diameter×(90/α). Inthis manner the housing can be moved by the user from the operationalposition into a position parallel with the support by means of only onerotational operation. This is advantageous both when the irradiationdevice is to be put up before use and when it is to be stored after use,and thus enhances the user-friendliness of the device.

FIG. 6 a shows an irradiation device according to the invention,comprising a base part (not shown), a support 53 longitudinallyextending from the base part and enclosing an angle (α) with a verticalaxis V, a housing 54 comprising a central axis, at least one radiationunit 56, and a radiation emission plane 57, said housing being pivotallyconnected to said support via a pivot shaft 58, said housing beingpivotable between an operational position, in which the radiationemission plane is horizontal, and a rest position, in which theradiation emission plane is vertical, and the central axis of thehousing encloses the angle (α) with the vertical axis. It is noted that,although this embodiment of the device is a suntanning device, it mayalso comprise other types of irradiation devices.

FIG. 6 b shows an upper part of the irradiation device in more detail.The gear system 60 comprises a first gear wheel D1 provided at theconnection point of the support 53 to the housing 54, and a second gearwheel D2 for co-operation with the first gear wheel D1, which isconnected to the housing 54 (not shown in the Figure) and is rotatableabout the pivot shaft 58. The second gear wheel D2 is fixedly fastenedto the housing and can only rotate together with the housing. The pivotshaft 58 is pivotally connected to the support 53 via a further pivotshaft 68. The diameter of the first gear wheel D1 is related to thediameter of the second gear wheel D2 as follows: first gear wheeldiameter D1=second gear wheel diameter D2×(90/α). With this gear ratio,the housing 54 can be moved in one rotational movement through 90° fromthe operational position into the rest position parallel to the support,and vice versa. In this embodiment, the gear wheels D1 and D2 compriseconoid gear wheels, but it is noted that other known types of gearwheels may alternatively be applied.

1. An irradiation device (1), comprising: a base part (2), a support(3), longitudinally extending from the base part (2) and enclosing anangle (α) with vertical axis V, and a housing (4) comprising a centralaxis (5), at least one radiation unit (6), and a radiation emissionplane (7), said housing (4) being pivotally connected to said supportvia a pivot axis (8), said housing (4) being pivotable between anoperational position (A), in which the radiation emission plane (7) ishorizontal (X), and a rest position (B), in which the radiation emissionplane (7) is vertical (Y), and the central axis (5) of the housing (4)encloses the angle (α) with the vertical axis (V), characterized in thatthe pivot axis (8) extends from the support so as to enclose an angle(α/2) with the horizontal plane (X) and with the vertical plane (Y). 2.An irradiation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that ablocking system (10) is provided for releasably blocking the housing (4)in its operational position (A) and in its rest position (B) relative tothe support (3).
 3. An irradiation device as claimed in claim 2,characterized in that the blocking system (10) comprises: a cylindricalblocking element (11) with protrusions (12) which is provided coaxiallywith the pivot shaft (8) near an end of the pivot shaft (8) in thevicinity of its connection to the support (3), a chamber (13) providedin the housing (4) for receiving said blocking element (11), comprisingnotches (22) for co-operation with said protrusions (12).
 4. Anirradiation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that aconnection system (30) is provided for connecting the pivot axis (8) tothe support, which system comprises: a fastening element (31) forreceiving the shaft (8), which is attachable to the support (3), a clampelement (32) for clamping the shaft (8) in said fastening element (31).5. An irradiation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in thatthe device (1) comprises a suntanning device.